Amendment Slows Lake Mary Approval Of Land-use Code

LAKE MARY — An amendment protecting landowners adversely affected by the city's proposed land-use changes is delaying approval of the proposed land development code.

For the amendment to be included, commissioners will have to repeat a first reading of the code on Nov. 13. The code had passed on first reading Oct. 3 and was set for final adoption Nov. 21, the day the city's building moratorium ends. The code now is scheduled for a final vote Nov. 27.

''We want to be sure we haven't missed anything and that it's as complete as possible,'' said City Manager Kathy Rice.

Under the proposed amendment, property owners will have a chance to air their grievances to the city planning and zoning board and the city commission if their development plans are impaired by the proposed land development code and 1985 Comprehensive Land Use Plan.

Within one year after the approval of the land development code, landowners, given their compliance with old codes, can try to prove to the city that they will incur financial losses if forced to abide by the new regulations.

If the commission finds validity in the arguments, it can grant the landowner a special exception to the codes.

Aside from the public hearings Nov. 13 and 27, an extra meeting for public comment on the code will be held on Nov. 21. The comprehensive land use plan, which will be applied in conjunction with the land development code, should by approved Nov. 12.